CAF Champions League
San Pedro 1-1 Rivers United
Issouf Dosso scored in the 55th minute in San-Pédro. Substitute Douglas Iyowuna equalised in the 69th. Rivers take an away goal to Uyo for the second leg. The winner will meet Vipers or FC Nouadhibou.
Rangers International 1-1 AS Sobemap
Chidozie Iwundu put the NPFL champions ahead in the 32nd minute at the MKO Abiola Sports Complex. Emmanuel Ali levelled in the 46th. Sobemap carry an away goal into the return in Benin. Rangers must win there to stay in the competition on a 1-1 first-leg scoreline.
CAF Confederation Cup
Shooting Stars 1-0 CS Sfaxien
Lucky Emmanuel scored in the 25th minute in Abeokuta. The 3SC take a slender lead to Tunisia. A clean sheet or an away goal in Sfax would send them through.
El-Kanemi Warriors 3-0 UDIB
Played in Ikenne, this was Nigeria’s clearest result. Nnamdi Mejuobi scored in the 52nd minute and from the penalty spot in the 56th. Dayo Wahab added the third in the 88th. El-Kanemi, the Federation Cup winners, take a three-goal cushion to Guinea-Bissau. The winner of the tie is due to face Raja Casablanca.
The pattern is familiar. Nigerian clubs can take a point on the road and a win at home; they rarely close a Champions League first leg. Rivers and Rangers are alive but no longer comfortable. Shooting Stars have a one-goal edge against Tunisian opposition. El-Kanemi have the result the weekend needed.
Second legs next weekend will decide how many Nigerian sides reach the next round. Two draws and two wins is a start. It is not yet a passage.